Prostate cancer accounts for about 25% of cancer cases among men. While relative to some forms of cancer it is far more treatable, with a 95% - 100% survival rate in the current day-and-age, it still remains a condition that can be painful, difficult to cope with, and expensive when you consider the medical attention required. Modern science is beginning to investigate how a plant-based diet can be used to prevent and protect against prostate cancer. This, no doubt, serves as an important piece of evidence to add to our backpacks of knowledge: if eating a plant-based, whole foods, vegan diet can literally protect us from cancer, what can't it do?

I don't want to be one who hypes up a single scientific study too much. We should all realize how complex these situations are to study empirically, and how much more research will be needed in the future. With that said, I am optimistic that future studies of a similar (but perhaps more refined) nature will continue to shed light on a vegan diet being of significant benefit.

A few components of the research copyrighted by the American Society for Nutrition that I liked was the relatively large sample size (over 20,000 men!), and the analysis of the dietary habits of every participant ranging from "nonvegetarian" to lacto-ovo-vegetarians, pesco-vegetarian, semi-vegetarians, and vegans. The most significant results that were found were specifically regarding the 8% of vegan participants.

While the plant-based movement does, at times, encompass a range of dietary lifestyles from vegetarians to vegans, it is interesting to have a very specific scientific study to reference when asked the question, "Why should I go completely vegan when I am already vegetarian?"

If the results of this study are really representative of reality in any way, the truth is complete veganism is the way to go, and removing all animal products from our diets is the way we are meant to live in order to be at our healthiest.

If a purely plant-based diet has the potential to reduce a man's risk of prostate cancer, I can't wait to see what new research comes out detailing the additional benefits of this lifestyle.

What is your thoughts on this piece of information about how a plant-based diet impacts the likelihood of having prostate cancer? Let me know below in the comments!